ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Before he turns into Megatron on NFL fields every Sunday, Calvin Johnson does some Downward Dog, Warrior, Cobra and Pigeon poses.
Part of Johnson's pre-game ritual includes practicing yoga by himself. Who knew the 6-foot-5, 236-pound freakish athlete was a yogi, too?
"If I need to work on my hamstrings, if I need a full-body deal, or if I just need to work on my hips, whatever needs work," said Johnson, the Detroit Lions' superstar receiver. "It’s nothing crazy. Got a game to play. Just trying to loosen up.
"I’ve seen, definitely, a positive impact from just being lose in my hips and hamstrings. I know it’s something that works for me and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Pro athletes have become much more open to yoga in recent years to help improve their flexibility and balance. Johnson said he took it up about three or four years ago when Drew Stanton was a backup quarterback for the Lions.
"His wife was a yoga instructor, so we would always do it at his house,” Johnson said. "They had a room where his wife brought a heater in there. It got nice and hot.
"It was definitely tough (at first). Once you get loose and start doing it, it’s not as tough.
Once you fall off and you try to go back to it, then it’s tough just like it was in the beginning.”
Yoga practices typically end with the participants quietly stating, "Namaste," which roughly translates to "good day" and "be well."
Once Johnson puts on his helmet and starts running pass routes, it is anything but that for defensive backs.
